Easter. Easter SUNDAY HAPPY. First Presbyterian Church Americus, Georgia

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1 First Presbyterian Church Americus, Georgia A community of faith, responding to God s call Loving, learning and leading people to Jesus Christ. HAPPY Easter Easter SUNDAY Welcome to Easter Worship! We hope and pray that you are embraced by God's Love through our members, our pastor, and our staff this morning. If you are a guest, please fill out one of our guest cards so we can be in touch with you. We invite you to join us for Sunday School next week at 9:45 a.m.

2 PRELUDE WELCOME and ANNOUNCEMENTS Sunday, April 21, :00 a.m. Easter Sunday *All Are Invited to Stand in Body or in Spirit The congregation is invited to respond at the bold print CALL TO WORSHIP Hold your head high, Christ has risen! Death has been conquered. Christ has restored us to new life. All that is broken has been made whole. Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting? Hold your head high, Christ has risen! From a triumphant Palm Sunday to a dark Friday, passing through sorrow, through death, to life and joy, we arrive at Easter. We know that joy and sorrow, life and death are bound together. By the power of God, the cross could not defeat Christ. The tomb could not hold him. Hold your head high, Christ has risen! Carry forward God s healing. Carry it to a world where truth and justice triumph over evil and oppression. You have been called out of death and into new life! Rejoice! Life bursts through death. Jesus Christ is alive for evermore! Alleluia! Camron Cummings, Organist ~ used in worship at Mulberry Street United Methodist Church, Easter Sunday Posted on covered in the master s dust. Pastor Sommer Bower *HYMN (Blue 123)... Jesus Christ is Risen Today Prayer List Please Pray For - Our Nation, Our Church; Our Pastor, Our Staff, Our Officers, Campus Ministry, Our Community and especially: MEMBERS AND CHURCH FRIENDS HOMEBOUND &/OR IN RESIDENTIAL FACILITIES Bob & B.J. Bryan Rev. Bill Gettys Mary Mackey Nancy Miller MEMBERS REMEMBERED IN PRAYER WITH PRAYER GRAM ROTATION Pat Hill Lois and Tim Hunter SPECIAL PRAYER FOR: - Harvey & Jody Simpson - Russell & Angie Thomas - Shannon Kennedy (cancer; McFarlands' niece) MISSIONARIES REMEMBERED IN PRAYER Benji & Esther Campbell, Wycliffe Bible Translators Lois & Tim Hunter, Wycliffe Bible Translators Anne D (India) Presbyterian Missionary Please notify the church office at or office@americuspresbyterian.org if you would like to add someone to our prayer list and/or request a PrayerGram. Listen to us every Sunday morning at 11:00 a.m. on WISK radio 98.7 on your radio dial. Weekly sermons can also be downloaded from our website. First Presbyterian Church - Phone: office@americuspresbyterian.org, April Elder of the Month BETH WILLIAMS CALENDAR OF EVENTS Wednesday, April 3rd, 11:30 am - 12:30 pm - Lenten Lunch Bible Study - Mediterranean Grill Thursday, April 4th, 10:30 am Nominating Committee Meeting Tuesday, April 9th, 10:30 am - Magnolia Manor Bible Study with Pastor Sommer Tuesday, April 9th - SAMA Meeting noon Wednesday, April 10th, 11:30 am -12:30 pm - Lenten Lunch Bible Study - FPC Thursday, April 11th Pastor Sommer at CPM Meeting at Presbytery Office Tuesday, April 16th, 11:30 a am - FPC Hosting Holy Week SAMA lunch and worship Thursday, April 18th Maundy Thursday Worship Service and Meal Sunday, April 21st - EASTER SUNDAY Tuesday, April 23rd, 6:30 pm - Session Meeting Thursday, April 25th -Pastor Sommer at CSM Sunday, April 7th Tom and Emily Collins Sharon McFarland BK - Jim Griffith Sunday, April 14th Russ Childers Ronnie Greer Cara/Ella Hawkins BK - Ronnie Greer VOLUNTEERS Sunday, April 21st Schley Gatewood Sharon Parks Ronnie Greer BK - Sharon McFarland Sunday, April 28th Bill Krenson, Pat Hill, and Cathy Clark Reynolds Jim Griffith BK - Cara/Ella Hawkins

3 CHILDREN S MESSAGE Pastor Sommer Bower HANDBELLS Easter Yesterday we had lost so much we lost the light we lost the argument we lost love we lost life we lost God we lost Jesus But this morning we found the tomb - empty the morning - bright the gardener - walking the stone - rolled the disciples - running the women - proclaiming the resurrection - waiting and Jesus - risen It is good we have found our way here this is Easter Day love is back good morning. ~ written by Roddy Hamilton and posted on the New Kilpatrick Parish Churchwebsite. Cynthia Richmond, Director Joyful Praise Arranged by Susan E. Geschke *PASSING OF THE PEACE The peace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you and also with you Let us share the peace of Christ with our neighbors. *HYMN (Blue 108).... Christ is Alive! PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION Holy and eternal God, you make foolish the wisdom of the world. Through the foolishness of the cross, you save those who believe. Help us, O God, believe not only with our lips but also with our lives. Amen. SCRIPTURE Luke 24:1-12 But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb, taking the spices that they had prepared. 2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they went in, they did not find the body. 4 While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men in dazzling clothes stood beside them. 5 The women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. 6 Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, 7 that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinners, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again. 8 Then they remembered his words, 9 and returning from the tomb, they told all this to the eleven and to all the rest. 10 Now it was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them who told this to the apostles. 11 But these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. 12 But Peter got up and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; then he went home, amazed at what had happened. This is the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God! MESSAGE..... Then They Remembered....Pastor Sommer Bower

4 Easter Lily Memorials OFFERTORY *DOXOLOGY (Blue 592)... Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow... Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; Praise Him, all creatures here below; Praise Him above, ye heavenly host. Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen *PRAYER OF DEDICATION *HYMN (Blue 104).... Christ is Risen! Shout Hosanna! INVITATION TO THE TABLE SACRAMENT OF THE LORD S SUPPER We are celebrating communion today by intinction. You are invited to come forward down the center aisle for the celebration of communion. As you dip the bread into the juice, be reminded that Jesus resurrection from the dead means new life for you as well. As you return to your seat down the window aisle, rejoice in the mercy and the salvation found in the empty tomb. *HYMN (Insert)..... Majesty, Worship His Majesty (sing the hymn twice) *BENEDICTION *POSTLUDE Camron Cummings, Organist Easter Sunday Join us TODAY for a children s egg hunt In the Prayer Garden and Church Playgroud Immediately following worship IN HONOR OF GIVEN BY Pastor Sommer and Our Church Family Cathy and Tim Reynolds Joshua, Sommer, Cade and Dianna Bower Doug and Dawn Bower Jaimie Minich and Joshua Minich David and Donna Minich Gloria Johnson and Crysta Seymour Keith and Marcia Seymour Pastor Sommer Tom and Sharon McFarland

5 Easter Lily Memorials IN MEMORY OF Gladys Greer GIVEN BY Ronnie Greer Witnesses (based on Luke 24:36-48, John 20:19-31) Joe and Edna Collins Frank and Emily Callaham Bob McFarland Robert and Luella Thornburgh Jack Gildea Tom and Emily Collins Emily and Tom Collins Tom and Sharon McFarland Crysta Seymour How do we find the faith to believe the story of Easter, Jesus? How do we grasp its truth? We can only accept it; refusing to reduce it to scientific debate or historical literalism kneeling with humility and awe beside the blood-stained cross and the empty grave; For then, we are your witnesses. Stella and Elmer Herron Ethel and Garland Benson Ruth Horne Williams Marthalene Callaway House Howard, Myra and Richard Minich Wilbur and Pearl Heisner Bill Wolcott Joan Campagna Betty and Colden Rainey Nancy and Jim Herron Earl and Beth Williams David and Donna Minich Joy Rainey Thompson. How do we understand the mystery of your death and life, Jesus? How do we explain it? We can only live it; allowing it to permeate every grain of this sand that forms us, every thought, every priority, every act and every interaction, For then we are your witnesses, and you deserve nothing less from us. Amen. Copyright John van de Laar, on his excellent Sacredise website ( ) Roy Studstill Sonny Studstill Martha Ann Studstill Dick Coe Tommy and Joyce Cochran Fred and Cynthia Richmond

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